HMAS Voyager (D31)

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See HMAS Voyager for other ships to bear the name

The first HMAS Voyager (D-31/I-31) was a 'W' class destroyer laid down by Alexander Stephen and Sons at Linthouse in Scotland on 7 May 1917, launched on 8 May 1918, completed on 24 June 1918 and commissioned as HMS Voyager into the Royal Navy, transferred to the Royal Australian Navy at Portsmouth on 11 October 1933 and commissioned as HMAS Voyager. Voyager departed for Australia on 17 October 1933, paid off to reserve on 14 April 1936 but re-commissioned on 26 April 1938, and served in the Mediterranean where she was involved in the evacuation of Greece in April 1941. HMAS Voyager ran aground at Betano on Timor on 23 September 1942 and was abandoned. The ship's crew was safely evacuated by HMAS Kalgoorlie and HMAS Warrnambool on 25 September 1942 and the ship destroyed by demolition charges.

HMS Voyager Destroyer, W Class Launched by Alexander Stephen & Sons Glasgow, Yard No 483, on 8/5/1918. Beached on Timor 23/9/1942 following damage from Japanese aircraft and destroyed by her crew. 1,100t light; 1490 t deep load 312ft x 29ft 6in x 10ft 6in 2-shaft Brown-Curtis single reduction geared turbines, 3 Yarrow boilers, Oil, 27,000shp giving 34 knots. 4 x 4in 45cal QF Mk V, 1 x 3in AA 6 x 21in TT (2 x 3). Crew 164.

Although having a "V" name she was fitted with triple tubes and was classified as a "W". Transferred to the RAN in October 1933 and remained unconverted. War Service, 27 Jun, 1940: The Italian submarine Console Generale Liuzzi was scuttled south off Crete after being depth charged by the British destroyers HMS Dainty, HMS Ilex, HMS Decoy, HMS Defender and the Australian destroyer HMAS Voyager. 29 Jun, 1940: On 29 June 1940 around 06.15hrs the Italian submarine Argonauta was probably sunk near Cape Ras el Hilal, Libya by the British destroyers HMS Dainty, HMS Decoy, HMS Defender, HMS Ilex and the Australian destroyer HMAS Voyager. Voyager was landing a Dutch / Australian guerilla force at the time of her loss in 1942.